Friday, February 3, 2023

Dear friend,

February marks the beginning of Black History Month, officially recognized in 1976. I look forward to celebrating the contributions of African Americans' within our County and beyond during upcoming events.

There are countless ways to celebrate and learn more about America's Black history in Fairfax County or DC. Thank you, Visit Fairfax, for creating an excellent list of 20+ ways to celebrate Black History Month locally.

https://www.fxva.com/blog/post/african-american-history/?fbclid=IwAR3BX3j6tSLO5NYU-GWUniVKZKBG9p20TJqoFr7wajrOJIwIW9fu6ksFp-Y

Also, the Franconia District Open House was a tremendous success!

Over 50 residents visited the Franconia Governmental Center to hear from Chairman Jeff McKay, Captain Lieb, the Springfield Art Guild, and myself about the latest updates impacting our community.

Thank you, All Rice Thai, for catering the event and Franconia Museum for opening your doors during the open house.

Please contact my office if we can assist you.

Email: Franconia@fairfaxcounty.gov

Phone 703-971-6262

-Rodney

Table of Contents

Franconia District Strategic Planning Community Forum - Feb 6th
#YourMetro: Metro Seeks Community Input on Strategic Transformation Plan
Opioid Overdoses Continue; Learn How to Get Help
Community Post: Workshop for Spanish-Speaker Landscape Professionals
Lake Accotink Public Meetings
Community Post: Acting Classes for Kids
COVID-19 Resources

Franconia District Strategic Planning Community Forum - Feb 6th

Franconia District School Board Member Tamara Derenak Kaufax and FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid will be at Edison High School for the Franconia District Community Forum on Monday, February 6th from 6:30 to 8:00pm.

Please register for this event using this Google Form.

When you register, please indicate if any language interpretation services are needed. Childcare will also be provided at this event.

If you can’t join me on February 6, please check out the schedule of Community Forums, including several virtual options, and register for one that is most convenient for you.

These Community Forums will provide every resident an opportunity to participate in and influence the direction of FCPS’ Strategic Plan, prior to its completion and formal adoption by the School Board. The goal is to have the final strategic plan by June 2023.

Hear more from Superintendent Reid as she explains the Strategic Plan process and its importance.

#YourMetro: Metro seeks community input on strategic transformation plan

Metro is inviting customers to provide feedback on the transit agency’s draft multi-year strategic transformation plan, #YourMetro, The Way Forward. The draft plan is an opportunity for Metro to gather input and comments from customers on priorities that are important to the region.

Want to provide feedback? Here's how:

Take a survey, provide written comments, or upload documents here by 5 p.m. Tuesday, February 14, 2023.
Attend a public hearing on Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. You can participate in person, online or by phone.
In-person at: Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, 2300 Wilson Blvd., First Floor Conference Room, Arlington, VA. Nearest Metro station: Court House (Orange and Silver lines). If you wish to provide testimony in person, we encourage you to pre-register by emailing speak@wmata.com or calling (202) 962-2511 by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, February 8, 2023. Please submit only one speaker’s name per request. Metro staff will be on-site at 6 p.m. to answer questions before the public hearing.
By video: To participate via video, advance registration is required. You can pre-register by emailing speak@wmata.com by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, February 8, 2023.
By phone: To participate by phone: call 855-925-2801 during the public hearing, enter meeting code 4773, and press *3 to be placed into the speaker queue. No advance registration is available for those participating by phone.

If you do not want to provide testimony but still want to watch or listen to the public hearing, you may watch or listen to the virtual public hearing live at YouTube.com/MetroForward and wmata.com/strategicplan or by calling 855-925-2801, meeting code 4773.

Opioid Overdoses Continue; Learn How to Get Help

Community members are asked to stay vigilant and learn how to access help as the county and the nation work to curb fatal and nonfatal drug overdoses. A growing area of concern here in Fairfax County and around the country is fatal and nonfatal overdoses involving youth.

WHAT CAN I DO?

This is a communitywide problem and requires a comprehensive approach to prevent future overdoses and connect individuals experiencing opioid and substance misuse to treatment and support services. Take action today.

Talk with your youth and other loved ones who are impacted by substance misuse about the dangers associated with drug use.
Attend Preparing Families for Difficult Conversations About Alcohol and Drugs, a presentation for parents offered by Fairfax County Public Schools in collaboration with the Fairfax County Police Department and Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board. Multiple sessions offered this spring throughout the County; schedule and location available from FCPS: https://www.fcps.edu/resources/student-safety-and-wellness/alcohol-tobacco-and-other-drug-programs
Also available: a recording and presentation (in multiple languages) from the Spring 2022 FCPS and Fairfax County government webinar on Youth Substance Use Trends
Sign up for a Virtual REVIVE! training class on how to recognize the signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose and administer naloxone nasal spray to reverse an opioid overdose. After completing the training, individuals 18 and older will receive a REVIVE! kit including Narcan, fentanyl test strips and treatment information.
Safely store and dispose of unwanted medications to prevent opioid misuse from ever starting.

COUNTY RESOURCES

If you or someone you know is experiencing substance use issues, there are numerous county resources available:

If the situation is immediately life-threatening, call 911. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue personnel carry medication that can prevent deaths from opioid overdose.
Call the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) Entry & Referral line at 703-383-8500, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., to access behavioral health services, including substance use treatment services for youth and adults.
If it's after business hours, call CSB Emergency Services at 703-573-5679 or the Fairfax Detoxification Center at 703-502-7000; both are available 24/7.
CSB Peer Outreach Response Team (PORT) provides outreach, engagement and resource navigation to individuals who have serious opioid and other substance use challenges. If you or someone you know could benefit from PORT services, call 703-559-3199.

Fairfax County continues working to address the opioid epidemic through the County’s Opioid and Substance Use Task Force, which has over 30 opioid-related programs/activities focused on reducing opioid-related overdoses and deaths in the Fairfax community.

Learn more: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news/opioids-learn-how-get-help-and-prevent-overdoses

Community Post: Workshop for Spanish-Speaker Landscape Professionals

Do you or someone you know speak Spanish and love to learn about nature? Plant NOVA Natives is hosting a Spanish speaking workshop on February 15th. Learn more about native plants and management of natural landscapes!

The event will take place on February 15th from 9am - 1pm, at the Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale Campus. The workshop is completely free, but you must register by February 14th.

For more information and to register, please click on the link: Clase en Espanol | Plant NOVA Natives | Northern Virginia

Lake Accotink Public Meetings

Two new public meetings regarding the Lake Accotink Dredging project have been announced. Additional analysis has been completed to assess lake dredging options. The Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Sciences will be presenting this information and staff recommendations at two meetings. Information will be posted on the project webpage prior to the meetings, and comments will be received after the meetings to gather public input.

Virtual Meeting: Wednesday, February 15, 2023, at 7 p.m.

A meeting link will be provided on the project webpage prior to February 15.

In-Person Meeting: Thursday, February 16, 2023, at 7 p.m.

Kings Glen Elementary School Cafeteria located at 5401 Danbury Forest Dr, Springfield, VA 22152.

For more information, please click on the link below:

https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/publicworks/stormwater/plans-projects/lake-accotink-dredging-ac89-0009

Community Post: Acting Classes for Kids

Do you have a child interested in acting? Traveling Players have some upcoming acting camps and classes in Tysons. They offer performance opportunities, coaching, and classes for a wide range of children. Financial aid is available for all programs! See below their upcoming events.

Acting Camps & Classes in Tysons!